Budweiser Warns Ultimate Fighting Championship About Homophobia

Anheuser-Busch, the primary sponsor of Ultimate Fighting Championship, is chastising the popular mixed martial arts league for anti-gay remarks made by some of its competitors.

"We've communicated to the UFC our displeasure with certain remarks made by some of its fighters, and they have promised to address this. If the incidents continue, we will act," the brewer said in a statement. A-B, which did not elaborate on potential actions, also stated that it "embraces diversity and does not condone insensitive and derogatory comments rooted in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, etc." The rebuke comes as the UFC is gaining mainstream exposure through support from major advertisers and a long-term TV deal with Fox that includes live prime-time matches. In a statement to Ad Age, UFC said: "With over 425 athletes on our roster, there have unfortunately been instances where a couple athletes have made insensitive or inappropriate comments. We don't condone this behavior, and in no way is it reflective of the company or its values."

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence has stated that children should not be exposed to UFC matches due to homophobic and misogynist language.